Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news and publications.
We are experts on civil society law and policy. We co-develop locally-led responses with the goal to protect civic freedoms. We create knowledge, build networks and strengthen legal protections. ECNL is analytical, forward-looking and innovative.
Highlighted
ECNL Learning Center
Learn more about critical aspects that affect civic space.
CSO Meter
Assess and advocate for an improved civil society environment in the Eastern Partnership countries.
Strategic guide for CSOs on the move
Explore scenarios, strategic advice and resources for CSOs that face growing restrictions in their home countries and consider hybrid modes of operations.
Focus areas
We are deeply commited to empowering civil society through creating enabling legal and policy frameworks. Explore our focus areas!
Protests and Assemblies
Image
Participation
Image
Funding and Philanthropy
Image
UN Standards
Image
European policies
Image
Action for Civic Space
Image
Monitoring Civic Spaces
Image
Climate Action
Image
News & Research
What's the latest in the field of civil society law and policy? Read our news and learn more about our analytical and research work!
Latest
View allJoin us for the last two webinars of the Civic Journalism Coalition in 2025
ECNL, EDRi and Lighthouse Reports invite you to online workshops on the legal impact of investigations and best practices for collaboration between civil society and journalists.
News
New global initiative aims to place environmental defenders at the heart of climate decisions
ECNL and partners launched the LEAD initiative at COP30.
News
The EU must uphold hard-won protections for digital human rights
Over 120 civil society organisations, trade unions and defenders urge the EU to halt its planned Digital Omnibus proposals that are part of a broader deregulation agenda.
News
Third Civic Space Watch alerts under MACS
Here are the latest developments in European civic space emerging from the Early Warning and Alert System, developed as part of the MACS (Monitoring Action for Civic Space) project.
News
Blueprint for rights-centered AI in public participation
Concrete recommendations for public institutions and AI developers on how to design and use AI tools that strengthen public trust in democratic processes.
News
Join ECNL at COP30
In Belem, Brazil, with the LEAD community we will make the case to elevate the voices of environmental human rights defenders in climate action.
News
Framework for Meaningful Engagement 2.0
The updated FME 2.0 offers very practical suggestions on how to engage civil society and affected communities in AI development to support platforms and AI developers in creating rights-based products.
Research
Where to find ECNL at ICSW 2025?
Join us at the International Civil Society Week in Bangkok to discuss civil disobedience, criminalisation of dissent and key trends from civic space monitoring.
News
How to use EU law and media engagement to protect civic space?
Civil society and journalists from Romania and Bulgaria came together under Catalyst of Change to share insights and enhance collaboration on human rights protection.
News
Impact stories
ECNL Portals
ECNL maintains several different websites, each with essential information but different civic space focus . Created with partners, these portals provide knowledge on the core civic freedoms of association, assembly and participation to support CSOs and civic groups open and defend their own spaces. Click here for for our learning center and a collection of websites to navigate the nonprofit laws around the world, assess civil society environment in the Eastern Partnership countries or track government responses to the pandemic that affect civic freedoms.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Civic space portals
Explore our diverse websites!
E-tools
Through research and analysis we provide digital tools on various civic space issues. Explore our online resources for accessible information on assembly rights in the digital space, nonprofit banking, international standards that protect climate activists and more!
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Online resources on the ECNL website
Use these tools to analyse trends and advocate for better policies, laws and practices that affect civil society.
About us
ECNL is an independent and established European leader on law and policy that affect civil society. We create knowledge, empower partners and help set global and regional standards that create, protect and expand civic freedoms. We rely on our 20+ years of expertise to respond to trends with relevance, creativity and innovation. Get to know us!
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
This is us over the years
Get to know the people working to address critical civic space needs!
Contact
Use the form below to drop us an email and we will get in touch shortly!